Article used for holding sheets of material together



June 2, 1942. F. L. MOLER 2,284,834

ARTICLE USED FOR HOLDING SHEETS 0F MATERIAL TOGETHER Filed Feb. 25, 1941 will/Illa VIIIIIIIIIIIII fiam/c/s A. M0454,

I NV ENTOR.

' I rrOEMf-IK Patented June 2,

' ARTICLE USED FOR HOLDING SHEETS OF MATERIAL TOGETHER Francis L. Moler, West Los Angeles, Calif. Application February 25, 1941, Serial No. 380,445

11 Claims.

This invention relates to fasteners of the spring clip type.

In many operations for instance in the riveting of the sheets of metal making up an airplane wing, it is necessary to properly align the rivet holes and then pass bolts, or other temporary fastening devices through enough of the said holes to securely hold the plates or sheets so that the rivet holes are maintained in aligned position, and the plates or sheets in contact with each other. In order to insure a perfect riveting job, these fasteners must completely fill the hole and in my improved device, this is done resiliently. The number of fasteners varies from' every second hole to every twentieth (or more) hole. The plates are then riveted through the aligned holes not containing a temporary fastener. Then the temporary fastener is removed and rivets are secured in these holes, the permanent rivets holding the sheets. The riveting is now complete and the temporary fasteners are ready for another riveting job.

The general object of this invention is to improve temporary rivets or fasteners of the above described type.

A specific objectis to provide a fastener made completely of a single piece of sheet spring material.

Another object is to provide such a fastener which may be, and preferably is, made by stamping and bending only.

Another object is to provide a fastener of the above described type whichhas a double element passing through the aligned perforations, one of said elements having a hook or projection which engages the underside of the bottom sheet, the other element associated with a bearing member adapted to press against the top of the upper sheet, and a single spring means connecting the two elements which resiliently urges the two members apart, thus forcing the holes into perfect alignment, and at the same time urges the hook or projection upward and the bearing member downward, thus pressing the sheets tightly together.

Still other objects are; to provide an improved device capable of securing thin sheet metal aeroplane skins together and aligning rivet holes posed surface of the metal is prevented from becoming marred; to provide a device peculiarly constructed whereby the tool for inserting and removing the device cannot slip and thereby mar or damage the material being worked upon; to

aligning rivet holes of different diameters; and to provide a more eflicient tool operated device of the kind stated and one which is more economical to construct and better adapted to perform the functions for which it is intended.

An object of the invention is also to improve upon the application filed by me January 31, 1940, Ser. No. 316,556.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described-and claimed. it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of that which is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention as now beingmanufactured,

' Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofthe device in its compressed position, there is also remotely included in the figure a perspective view of an elastic sleeve.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device in its unstressed position. In this figure as well as in Figs. 3, '4, and 5, the elastic sleeve is shown in its operative position in section.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device'in its fully compressed position after it has passed through the aligned perforations of'the. superposed plates which are shown in section. A portion of an applied tool for the purp se of inserting the device into its operative position being included in the view. 1

' Fig. 4 is a partial enlarged vertical sectional view showing the device at an intermediate staze as it passes through the aligned holes in the superposed plates.

Fig. 5 is a view of the device in operative position, holding two plates together.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view taken on line H of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a view looking in the direction in which the arrows I-I point in Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the invention is shown embodied in a one piece clip ll of -resilient strap metal having an upper run II and provided through the skins wherein the exa lower run l2, said runs being united at one end by an arcuate bend ii. That end of the run II which is farthest from the bend It has at each side edge a bevel ll whereby it is greatly narrowed to form a tongue It. This tongue is directed downwardly at about a right angle to the provide a device adapted for more accurately run II and is furnished at its lower end with a laterally directed tip "having an upwardly directed, fiat shoulder II which is located at that side of the tongue which is farthest from the bend l3 which unites the runs H and I! of the clip.

In order to adapt the lower portion of the clip I I to cooperate in the desired manner with the aforesaid tongue I! the lower run I2 is provided with an upwardly arched portion l8 and beyond this arcuate part is continued as a terminal run I! which has an upwardly inclined extremity 2|,

- there being, through said run 2|, a rectangular aperture 22 of suflicient size to permit the offsettip I i of the tongue I! readily to pass through it, and the extent of said aperture lengthwise of the clip being sufficient to .allow the tongue I! to assume the various positions required in the operation of the device.

At the inner end of the aperture 22 is provided a downwardly directed finger 2! which is preferably by the same stamping operation that prosaid plates will contain a plurality of rivet holes positioned to match properly with the rivet holes of the other so that when any two pairsof said holes are maintained properly aligned all the other holes will also be properly aligned in readiness to receive the rivets whereby the two plates are secured together in a face to face contact with each other.

In order to prevent the portion of the clip Hi which necessarily contacts with the upper plate 30 from in any way marring said plate a rubber sheath or sleeve is provided to slip over the terminal run IQ of the lower part of the clip I0. Said sleeve is of a fiat character and has through its double side portions an aperture 36 which aligns with the clip aperture 22 when the sheath is in place and at such time maintains the lower limb l2 of theapplied clip spaced away from the upper face of the sheet 30, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Said sleeves function as a cushion to prevent the device from marring the metal to which it is applied.

For the purpose of applying the clip to the pair of plates shown, a tool 40 is provided having handle arms 4| and 42 which are respectively provided with angularly directed cooperating gripping jaws 43 and 44, there bein a connecting pivot 45 which extends through the tool at the junctures of said jaws with said arms. The jaw 44 is nearly straight and is provided at its extremity with an internal right angled recess 46 and the jaw 43 has a tip portion 41 which is deflected in a direction to enter said recess when the jaws are closed. At the inner end of the recess 46 the jaw 44 has a shoulder 48 which is abuttable against an edge portion of the clip Hi to aid the operator to apply said tool properly to said clip.

The automatic opening of the jaws of the tool is produced by the spiral compression spring 50 mounted between the handle portions of the tool in a conventional manner.

In using the tool 40 to put the clip l0 into place, the operator will apply the tool to the clip in the manner illustrated in Fig. '7, where it will be seen that the recessed tip portion of the jaw assess;

44 underlies the arcuate portion I! of the clip and the end portion of the other jaw 43 is abutting against the 'upper surface of the top run ll of the clip, the accurate applying of the tool to the clip being facilitated by abutting the jaw shoulder 48 against an edge of the arcuate part 18 of the clip. After thus applyingthe tool its tracting the clip between the jaws of the tool the removal of the clip will be facilitated by tilting it in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the upwardly deflected tip." of the run IQ of the clip facilitating such tilting movement.

Owing to the fact that the inbent part It of the metal strap which forms the clip provides a seat for one of the jaws 44 of the gripping tool,

- said jaw may be more readily applied to the clip and with less danger of marring the plate 30.

One or more applied clips will be used to constitute temporary fastener for holding together two or more plates preparatory to securing such plates together by means of rivets or other fasteners occupying their alined apertures. The run IQ of the clip acts as a bearing member adapted to press downwardly on the upper face of the top plate or sheet while the hook part It of the clip engages the underside of the lower plate or sheet, and the intervening body portion of the clip affords a spring means which urges said bearingmember vertically toward the hook and at the same time spreads them apart horizontally to make close contact with opposite edge portions of the alined holes.

It will be obvious, from Fig. 4, wherein is illustrated an intermediate step of the operation of placing the clip in the applied position, that the alined openings in the plates do not afford room enough for the simultaneous insertion of the finger 25 and the hooked portion of the tongue; hence it is necessary to project the hooked portion of the tongue through the opening in advance of the finger, whereupon partially unstressing the clip by releasing the grip of the tool upon it causes' the finger to enter the hole alongside the tongue.

The angularly directed, substantially straight tongue i 5 of the clip is of sufiicient length to insure that said tongue will at all times project through the aperture 22 a varying distance dependent upon the extent to which the clip may be compressed.

What is claimed is:

1. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element adjacent to the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected to a bearing member adapted to press downwardly on the upper face of a top sheet, the second element having a hook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and spring means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and the two said elements apart.

2. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element adjacent to the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected to a bearing member adapted to press downwardly on the up per face of atop sheet, the second element having a hook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and a single spring means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and the 'two said elements apart.

3. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element adjacent to the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected to a bearing member adapted to press downwardly on the upper face of a top sheet, the second element having ahook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and th two said elements apart.

4. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element'adjacent to the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected to a bearing member adapted to press downwardy on the upper face of a top sheet, the second element having a hook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and a single means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and the two said elements apart.

5. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element adjaoentto the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected, to a hearing member adapted to press downwardy on the -upper face of a top sheet, the second element having a hook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and spring means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and the two said elements apart, said fastener being made of a single sheet of spring material. V

6. A temporary fastener comprising an element adapted to be inserted into and partially fill a hole, another element adjacent to the first element, the two elements substantially filling the hole, the first element connected to a bearing member adapted to press downwardly on the upper face of a top sheet, the second element having a hook adapted to engage the underside of a lower sheet, and a single spring means simultaneously urging the bearing member towards the hook and the two said elements apart, said fastener being made of a single sheet of spring material.

'7. A loop shaped resilient clip for the purpose stated, having an aperture through one of its end portions, the opposite end portion of said clip extending through and projecting beyond said aperture, said projecting portion of the clip having an extremity provided with a hook and said apertured portion of the clip having a finger which occupies an adjacent, generally parallel relation to said projecting clip portion, said finger being subjacent to one side of said aperture and said hook being directed toward the opposite side of said aperture, said aperture being of a suificient size to allow said finger and hooked extremity to spring apart for the purpose specified.

8. A looped shaped resilient clip of strap metal for the purpose stated having an aperture through one of its end portions, the opposite end portion of said clip constituting a tongue which projects through said aperture different distances according to whether said clip is in a stressed or an unstressed condition, the end portion of the strap opposite to said tongue having a laterally projecting finger to cooperate with said tongue to form means for interiorly gripping apertured parts, a side run of said strap being bent inwardly toward the opposite side of the clip thus providing a seat for one of the jawsof a tool applied externally to the clip to compress the latter.

9. A temporary fastener having a metal portionconsisting of a single elongated piece of resilient metal, said fastener being of a looped character with opposed spaced apart limbs, one of said limbs having through it an aperture adja.

which it normally contacts when the device is i its applied position. 7

11. The subject matter of claim 9 and, a part of one of said limbs being bent inwardly toward the other limb thereby forming a seat to receive one of the jaws of a tool of the pincers type for the purpose of pressing said limbs toward each other preparatory to removing the clip from its applied position.

FRANCIS L. MOLER. 

